Lid-lifting device for trash cans



United States LID-LIFTING" DEVICE FR TRASH CANS Edgar L Dunagan, Lena P. Dunagan, and Kenneth M.

'This invention relates to af deviceadapted `for. elevating the lid of a trash can responsive tot depressionof a foot pedal-or, alternatively, operation ofy a handle, "the device being so designed that on swinging .of the h-andle or depression ofthe foot pedal, the trash can lid will be lifted from' closed position and will be swung laterally through ninety'degrees, toipermit ltrash to be deposited in the can.

' It. is well known that considerablel inconvenience -at- `tends 'the deposit of trash in` atra-sh can. AThis results from the fact that one must first remove the lid, and place the same on an adjacent support, or uponv the-ground.

Then, after'the'trash is deposited in the container, the

lid must be pickedup and returned to its closed position. This is inconvenient and troublesome, in view of the fact that in many instances, one may have both hands oc- Lcu-piediin:i=holding the trash that Vis to be deposited in the container. -It is thus necessaryV in these circumstancesto -first.placeitheftrash'zupori the ground or other supportsurface-,then remove the lid, and after picking up the trash "and-'depositing it in the can, again pick up the lid .andre- -turn'it tofplace. In other instancesone may: desire to 'empty the trash can, and this .of course requires 'the'use of-iboth hands,:so that rthe removal and replacementv of the lid again-is an inconvenient and, troublesome requirement.

v.The-main object of the vpresent invention is 4to provide a lid-,lifting mechanism which will eliminate .theinconveniences and annoyances described above.

-VA morel specific object isto `designgthe liftingmechanism in such a manner lasto cause `the lid to be lifted and swung outY of the way in a Vsimple operationinvolving no kmore;than'the'rlepression of. a-.foot pedal lor'the swinging yof a handle, whichever is ,most convenient for the particular i user.

yAnother Iobject is to-eiect-the Vlifting andthe lateral swinging movement of the lid in 4minimuml time, and ywith afminimum amount-of diculty.

Still another object isxto form' the device in a ina-nner v`such that it will be particularly characterized ,byl its simplicity and'lowicost, whilerstill 'being-'possessed 4of a lhigh Adegree-of ruggedness, .resistance to deterioration on eX- posure tothe elements, and adaptability for long and eihcient use without requiring maintenance -and repair.

Still another object is to lprovide a lid-lifting mechanism Iand associatedsupport-for trash cans which can be used on aconventional container-or trash can, without requiringmodihcation of the trash can in any way.

Stillanother object. ofthe invention is to design the structure .in such a manner that' it will-be usable on conventional trash cans and containers of vdifferent sizes, without requirement of any change in the structure other than the lengthening of a suspension chain.

Still another object is `to so designthe mechanism that the lid -will automatically return to its closed'position, swinging laterally back into position over the trash .container and'then downwardly to close .the container, responsive merely 'to releasing of the downwardV pressure `previously exerted upon the handle or foot pedal, and/ o r Atherelease of a simple',easily-operated 'locking hook.

arent .A 2,862,683 :Paten-ted Dec. 2, 1958 ICC Other objects will appear from the following .description, the claims appended thereto, andV from the annexed ldrawing in which like reference characters designate vlike parts throughout the several viewsy and wherein:

Figurel is a perspective View of a lidflifting mechanism and associated support, as it appears wheningits operative relationship to a conventional trash can, .the lid being in closed position;

Figure'Z is a perspective View `of the upper portiomof the mechanism and ofthe trash Camn-which `the' lid has been swung to its open positiongand Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View .substantially on line 3-.3 of Figure12, with the mechanism and lid being shown indotted 4lines in the normalf-posi-tion thereof and in full lines in the position4k assumed by 'fthe lid and the associated parts of the mechanism-:whenthe trash container isopened.

Referring to the drawings-in detail, atv-10 therehas been designated a hat base, .on which is supported a vconventional trash can. 12. "The trash can is `located ina predetermined position upon the base, k-through the medium ofpositioning arms 13 havingat'theirouter ends pins 14 extending throughthe-base. The trash canrp'ositioningmeans deiined by arms 13 and pins=14 constitutes subject matter for a different patent applicatiomdled concurrently herewith. Y Y

:The trash container l12 includestheusu'alhd-16, which ordinarily is manually lifted-'by grasping itshhandlez 17.

"T he container, in this connection; has ltheusual circumferential bead 113- spaced downwardly af shortdistance yfrom the' open vupperend ofthe con-tainer' toi-supportlthe -peripherally flanged periphery of i lid -16 f T he lifting mechanism 4constituting the present-:invention has been ygenerally designated lat'-1,9`, and includesV a socket 20that is rigidly secured to and-projectsupwardly from the' base, said socket'beingI'internal-lythreadedvto receive the complementarily threaded lower-end-of an elongated, vertically disposed, tubularstandard 2 2.

Adjacent the upper end of-the standard a level-'24,

Vhaving at one end a handle element 26, -ispivotall1`yconnected adjacent its other, innerend tothe-.upper endof the post` 22fby means of a pivot pin28 extendinghorizontally, transversely'through the post22. Y

Betweenthe outer end of lever -24 and the fulc-rumpoint 2S "thereof, there is loosely,-pivota1ly connected--tolth'e lever the upper end of an elongated connectingrtd 30, `the lower endof which is similarly loosely,=pivotallyf connected to one end of an inclined footpedal' 32 hinged as at 34 at its other end to the -base 1'0.

Intermediate the ends of the standard22,-and spaced longitudinallyvof the standard, there are provided clamps 36, projecting laterally from the standard and provided at their outer ends with clamping arms 37 grippingly--en gaging an elongated sleeve r38, which is thusi-iixedlyfconnected to the standard 22 in a-position laterallyspaced from and parallel to the standard.

Sleeve 38is Aformed open at'its opposite ends, and extending into the sleeve lthrough Ythe Y. open y"end thereof is the vertical leg of a lifting arm-40,-vwhich arm 40is fof inverted L-shape, including in addition to-thevvertical -verally extended spirally of the sleeve 138, -hasfi`nactuality straight portions, connected by a spiralling intermediate( portion, the end portions being angularly spaced ninety degrees apart circumferentially of the sleeve 38. The vertical leg of Vlift arm 40 has a radially projecting lug 50 slidably engaging in the cam slot.

Due to the construction illustrated and described, it will `be seen that with the lid `in closed position as in Figure 1, and assuming that one desires to remove the lid by operation of the foot pedal, the foot pedal 32 is depressed. This pulls downwardly on the connecting rod 30, which in turn causes the lever 24 to swing from its normal dotted line position shown in Figure 3 to its full line position in this gure of the drawing. The lever in the position to which it is swung responsive to depression of the foot pedal is also shown in Figure 2.

In any event, this causes the inner end of the lever to swing upwardly, and through the medium of the suspension chain 46, an upward pull is exerted upon the lifting arm 40 attached to lid 16.

Arm 40 is slidable and rotatable -in sleeve 38, and accordingly, when it is pulled upwardly, its lug 50 will travel upwardly within the slot 48, from the dotted line position of the lug shown in Figure 3 to the full line position thereofshown in the same figure of the drawing.

As the lug moves upwardly, it travels through ninety degrees circumferentially of the sleeve 38 due to the spiralling intermediate portion of the cam slot. Therefore, not only is Vthe lid raised, but also it is swung laterally after being raised suiciently to clear the upper end of the container 12, from its Figure 1 to its Figure 2 position. The lid is now disposed Wholly to one side of the container 12, lthus permitting trash to be deposited in the container or permitting, alternatively, removal of the container for the purpose of emptying the same.

It may be noted that the provision of the straight lower end portion of the cam slot 48 insures that initially, the lid will movestraight upwardly from the body of the trash can, before there is any lateral movement imparted to the lid. VObviously, lateral movement cannot be imparted to the lid until it has fully cleared the upper end of the container 12.

Thus, responsive merely to depression of the pedal 32, the lid is first moved straight upwardly to clear the container, after which, as the lug 50 begins to move through the spiralling intermediate portion of the cam slot, the lid travels laterally ninetydegrees about an axisy dened by the sleeve 38, to its nal position shown in Figure 2.

Obviously, if the user nds it more convenient to operate the device by means of Vthe handle, the foot pedal 32 need not be used. Instead, one merely exerts downward pressure on the handle element 26 of the lever and the same operation as previously described takes place.

When the lid has been swung to its Figure 2 position, it will of course remain in this position if the downward pressure on the foot pedal or on the handle element 26 is maintained. However, in some instances it will not be convenient to continue to exert said downward pressure on the pedal or handle. Therefore, there` is provided a locking arm 5,2 pivoted upon the upper end of the standard 22 at the side of the standard opposite that on which the lever 24 is mounted. VThe pin 28, can in fact, be used for pivotally supporting both the lever and lthe locking arm 52. The locking arm 52 has a hook-shaped free end, and thus can be manually swung into the position shown in Figure 3, in which position the hook-shaped end thereof engages over the horizontal leg of the lift arm 4t) to hold the lid against return movement from its Figure 2 position. When the lid is to be returned to its Figure l position, the locking arm is merely swung upwardly, and the weight of the lid and of the lift arm causes the lift arm to tend to move downwardly within the sleeve 38. As a result, the lug, now traveling downwardly within the slot 48, travels back through ninety degrees of the sleeve circumference, to position the lid over the container 12. Then, as the lug travels downwardly through the straight lower end portion of the cam slot, the lid moves straight downwardly into its container-closing position shown in Figure 1.

As will be apparent, the device can be used with a wholly conventional trash'contaiuer, and to be operatively associated with said container, need merely be clamped to the lid as at'44, with the container being disposed between the holding arms 13, which properly center the container relative to the lid when the lid is attached to the lift arm of the device.

Further, the device is usable with containers of different sizes and heights. Assuming that, for example, a container lower in height than that shown in Figure l is to be associated with the device, one need merely loosen the bolts 54 carried by the clamps 36. This permits the clamps to be adjusted downwardly on the standard 22. The sleeve 38 is thus correspondingly adjusted downwardly along the length of the standard 22 to locate the lift arm 40 in a lower position, where it will be clampable to the lid 16 of the container. One need merely provide in this instance a longer suspension chain 46, to provide for efficient operation of the device with a container smaller in size than that shown.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specic use or uses thereof described above since it may be utilized for any purpose to which itmay be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the speciiic construction illustrated and described, since su-ch construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: y

l. A device for lifting from a trash container a con tainer lid, and for moving said lid laterally to one side of the container, comprising: a base adapted for supporting said container; an elongated, vertically extending standard xedly secured to and projecting upwardly from the base adjacent the area of the 4base on which the container is supported; a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the upper en-d portion of said standard for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said lever having one end in close proximity to said area though terminating outside the area, so as to be closely, laterally spaced from a container and lid supported within said area, said lever having its -other end spaced outwardly a substantial distance from said area and formed as a handle, for rocking of the lever about its pivot axis between a normal position in which the lid is supported upon the container and an operative position in which the lid is elevated from the container and is shifted laterally thereof to permit access to the interior of the container; vertically spaced support elements on and projecting laterally from said standard at a location spaced longitudinally downwardly of the standard from the lever, said elements projecting from the standard toward said area and being disposed in substantial vertical alignment with the lirst named end of the lever; an elongated, vertical sleeve carried by said elements and rigidly connected by the elements to said standard in a position laterally spaced from the standard in the direction of said container-suppport area, said sleeve extending in substantial vertical alignment with said first named end of the lever, the sleeve being formed intermediate its ends with a spirally extending cam slot extending through substantially a lift arm of inverted L-shape including a vertical and a horizontal leg, the vertical leg being slidably, rotatably engaged in the sleeve and projecting upwardly from the sleeve to terminate below the rst named end of the lever, the horizontal leg of said lift arm projecting inwardly of said area from the sleeve and having a connection to said lid remote from the vertical leg, said lift arm including a lug which is slida-bly engaged in the cam slot, whereby to rotate the lift arm Lthrough 90 in respectively opposite directions on raising and lowering, respectively, of the lift arm within the sleeve; and a connecting member of flexible formation over its entire length, connected between the first named end of the lever and the upper end of said vertical leg and extending in approximate longitudinal alignment with the vertical leg in the respective positions of said lever, whereby to elevate the lift ann responsive to rocking of the lever in one direction to in turn raise the lid and shift the same laterally to one side of the container, said ilex ible element being axially twistable for turning thereof with the vertical leg during raising and lowering, respecJ tively, of the lift arm.

2. A device for lifting from a trash container a container lid, and for moving said lid laterally to one side of the container, comprising: a base adapted for supporting said Icontainer; an elongated, vertically extending stan-dard fxedly secured to and projecting upwardly from the base adjacent the area of the base on which the container is supported; a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the upper end portion of said standard for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said lever having one end in close proximity to said area though terminating outside the area, so as to be closely, laterally spaced from a container and lid supported within said area, said lever having its other end spaced outwardly a substantial distance from said area and formed as -a handle, for rocking of the lever about its pivot axis between a normal position in which the lid is supported upon the container and an operative position in which the lid is elevated from the container and is shifted laterally thereof to permit access to the interior of the container; vertically spaced support elements on and projecting laterally from said standard at a location spaced longitudinally downwardly of the standard from the lever, said elements projecting from the standard toward said area and being disposed in substantial vertical alignment with the first named end of the lever; an elongated, vertical sleeve carried by said elements and rigidly connected by the elements to said standard in a position laterally spaced from the standard in the direction of said container-support area, said sleeve extending in substantial vertical alignment with said rst named end of the lever, the sleeve being formed intermediate its ends with a spirally extending cam slot extending through substantially a lift arm of inverted L-shape including a vertical and a horizontal leg, the vertical leg being slidably, rotatably engaged in the sleeve and projecting upwardly from the sleeve to terminate below the first named end of the lever, the horizontal leg of said lift arm projecting inwardly of said area from the sleeve and having a connection to said lid remote from the vertical leg, said lift arm including a lug which is slidably engaged in the cam slot, whereby to rotate the lift arm through 90 in respectively opposite directions on raising and lowering, respectively, of the lift arm within the sleeve; a connecting member of flexible formation over its entire length, connected between the rst named end of the lever and the upper end of said vertical leg and extending in approximate longitudinal alignment with the vertical leg in the respective positions of said lever, whereby to elevate the lift arm responsive to rocking `of the lever in one direction to in turn raise the lid and shift the same laterally to one side of the container, said flexible element being axially twistable for turning thereof with the vertical leg during raising and lowering, respectively, of the lift arm; and a locking arm pivotally yconnected at one end to the upper end portion of the standard for swinging movement about an axis common to that of said lever, said lever and locking arm rocking at diametrically opposite locations on the standard, the locking arm having la hook-shaped free end overlying the horizontal leg ot the lift arm in the laterally shifted position of said horizontal leg, for engaging about said horizontal leg to hold the same in the position to which it is laterally shifted.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,195,481 Legat et al Aug. 22, 191s 1,341,390 Snickers May 25, 1920 2,553,109 Pirtle May 15, 1951 2,665,868 Schmidt Jan. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 629,293 Germany Apr. 27, 1936 

